Church: Our commitment to war against poverty is intact

By Devota Mwachang`a

8th May 2012

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The Roman Catholic Church yesterday reaffirmed commitment to fight poverty and contribute to national development through various projects, including financial services through its Mkombozi Commercial Bank (MKCB).

This was said in Dar es Salaam by Dar es Salaam Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Eusebius Nzigilwa at the opening of MKCB Msimbazi branch. He was representing Archbishop Polycarp Cardinal Pengo.

“In order to liberate the society from poverty, the Church has proposed establishment of several projects, including universities, hospitals, farms, schools and different colleges,” he said.

Nzigilwa explained that Tanzanians were involved in owning the MKCB and that no single foreigner has invested in it.

The bishop called upon citizens to effectively utilise services of the bank, stressing that it served all the people regardless their backgrounds.

For her part, MKCB managing director Edwina Lupembe said the challenge her bank faced ahead was getting more workers with integrity, who would implement their responsibilities with morals and for the public interest.

“We need to have workers with integrity, not those who think of owning cars, and succeeding within a short time after getting their jobs. The vision of this bank is to provide loans and other services to all people, especially the low income earners,” she noted.

Moreover, she said the Bank, in collaboration with other institutions in the region, has educated small entrepreneurs on the importance of forming small groups, through which they could access loans.

Additionally, she declared that the bank’s resources have grown to 33.6bn/- last year from 25.1bn/- in 2010, loans issued increased to 11.5bn/- last year from 6.6bn/- in 2010, and income earned from loans has increased to 2.9bn/- last year from 11.3bn/- in 2010.

“This year, we plan to invest 19.7bn/- through treasury bills and banks, and to open another branch in Kariakoo by August since the Bank of Tanzania has given us a go ahead to do so,” she added.